Missouri’s State Department of Economic Development says Missouri will see $542 million each year for the next several years from the biofuels industry in the state. From a press release on Governor Matt Blunt’s web site: “The production of renewable fuels is one of Missouri agriculture’s greatest success stories,” Blunt said. “In the same way that Missouri’s family farmers rose …
Ag Outlook Forum Focuses on Energy
The theme for USDA’s 83rd annual Agricultural Outlook Forum next month is “Agriculture at the Crossroads: Energy, Farm and Rural Policy.” “USDA’s 2007 Agricultural Outlook Forum explores renewable energy’s future in biofuels, cellulosic, methane, and wind,” said Johanns. “The Forum’s national conversation about agriculture centers on the fascinating opportunities and challenges of renewable energy in the next farm bill and …
Michigan Gov to Call for Massive Alt Fuels Initiative
The Detroit Free Press is reporting today that in tonight’s State of the State address Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will call for $100 million in state spending over the next three years on alternative energy in Michigan. Here’s some of the anticipated highlights: • Investing about $50 million over three years in public and private sector money to pay …
Segments of the Opening Session
At this morning’s general session a panel discussion was held that featured U. S. Representatives, Collin Peterson (D-MN), Kenny Hulshof (R-MO), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) and Dave Wheldon (R-FL). These are also the members of The Second Amendments, the band that played at half time during the Super Bowl party yesterday here at the National Biodiesel Conference. They talked about their …
Global Warming at 28 Below
A quick Google news search for “global warming” today turns up nearly 2,000 articles in the first heading, thanks to a new study that says global warming is “underway right now, humans caused it, and it will continue for centuries, no matter what we do.” The study was released in Paris by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. At a …
Secretary of Agriculture Asked About Feed Prices
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns gave a speech during this morning’s general session here at the Cattle Industry Convention and afterward he held a press conference. He was asked about ethanol and the effect that increased production has had on livestock feed prices and offers some administration thoughts on the subject which include the promotion and development of cellulosic ethanol. …
Senate Energy Committee Holds Biofuels Conference
An all-day conference on biofuels was held Thursday by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The conference featured six panels and 33 witnesses from industry, agriculture, infrastructure, research and development. Much of the testimony focused on the need for increased funding to develop cellulosic technology. National Commission on Energy Policy Counsel David Conover told the committee they …
Tennessee Wants to Become Biofuels Leader
It seems like just about every state lately is getting into the biofuels race wanting to become a leader. The latest is Tennessee, where Governor Phil Bredensen announced that his “proposed 2007-2008 budget will include $61 million for a comprehensive alternative fuels strategy to position Tennessee to be a national leader in the production of biomass ethanol and related research.” …
Farm Bill Proposals Stress Cellulosic Ethanol
A word that few people even knew just five years ago when the last farm bill was written is all over the Bush administration’s 2007 farm bill proposals released Wednesday. That word is “cellulosic.” As announced last week, the proposals include $1.6 billion in new funding for renewable energy research, development and production, targeted for cellulosic ethanol, which will support …
Biodiesel Space for a Buck
Last fall, the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan announced it would use biodiesel provided by Western Michigan University… Bronco Biodiesel… to fuel its city buses. Now, the city is renting out a building for the plant… at just $1 a year! According to a WMU press release, the biodiesel plant is expected to produce 100,000 gallons a year. The biodiesel will …